Citizens group Stop Rail Now today sent a letter to Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann requesting the city give anti-rail groups equal time and space to provide the public with information against rail.

Groups for and against the transit project are focusing on winning public opinion before a Nov. 4 vote on a city Charter amendment authorizing the construction of a train.

Through June 30, the city spent nearly $2.6 million on a public information campaign that includes holding several hundred community updates and speakers bureau presentations, regular publication of a project newsletter, maintaining a project Web site and hot line and dealing with the news media.

Some of those public outreach efforts are required by the federal government, which is expected to pay for a portion of the mass transit system.

However, Stop Rail now contends the city is using taxpayer to sway public opinion in favor of the project.

"We're not claiming it's illegal," said Stop Rail Now co-founder Dennis Callan. "We're claiming it's unethical and dishonest and a misuse of taxpayer money. The bottom line is there should be balanced information particularly with the (upcoming) ballot issue" vote.

The city contends the amount of money spent on public information represents about 2 percent of the total value of transit project contracts awarded to date.

Money for the contracts is included in the council-approved budgets, according to an e-mail from city spokesman Bill Brennan.